A nice walk around the airfield as dark skies built from the north. The famous stony field at the western end looks perfect for a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, we came close (in appearance) with a confiding juvenile female Ruff in the pools created by the almost-as-famous leaky water trough on the eastern runway. We flushed a single Snipe here, and heard (but didn't see) both Bar-tailed Godwit and Ringed Plover - it pays to know your calls!
Apart from an impressive 42 Wheatear on the stony field, the airfield was otherwise quiet.
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| The Ruff was really small, confirming it as a female. The fresh plumage, with neat pale fringes across the scapulars, coverts and tertials, age it as a juvenile. |
On Sunday we paid our final fieldwork visit to Grassholm Island of 2024. It was pretty flush with migrants, including a Common Redstart, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 5 Wheatear, 3 Willow Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, and singles of Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler. Seeing such migrants on a remote lump of rock really is a thrill! (Dave & Lisa)
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| Grasshopper Warbler - on rocks! |
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| Spotted Flycatchers - also on rocks! |